Folding crib



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. S. RICKARD.

FOLDING CRIB.

No. 477,311. Patented June, 21, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT .O Ic

CHARLES S. RICKARD, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

FOLDINQCRIB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,311, dated June 21, 1892.

Application filed April 1'5, 1891. seal No. 389,031. mantra.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. RICKARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the crib folded.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the same extended. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the base and one of the rockers. Fig. 5 is a perspective View illustrating a modification, which consists in constructing the base with drawers.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The base of my improved folding crib is composed of side pieces 1 1, and may be connected by rounds 2 2, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, or they may be boxed up, as shown in Fig. 5, to form a casing 3, in which one or more drawers 4 may be arranged when desired, thus forming a useful receptacle for clothes and the like. The upper edges of side pieces 1 1 form bases for the rockers 5 5, which are connected by a cross-piece 6, suitable corner clamps or braces 7 being provided in order to insure strength. The rockers 5 are provided in their lower edges with sockets 8, in which coiled springs 9 are mounted, the upper ends of said springs being suitably secured in said sockets The side pieces 1 1 of the base are likewise provided with sockets 10 to receive the lower ends of the springs 9. Rods 1 1, which are attached to the lower ends of the springs 9, are extended through perforations 12 in the under sides of the side pieces 1, and the lower ends of said rods, which are screw-threaded, as shown at 13, are provided with thumb-nuts 14:, by turning which the tension of the springs may be adjusted at will. The said springs will thus serve to connect the rockers with the base in such-a manner as to permit them to rock freely. This spring connection, I would have it understood, may be applied and will be found to be very useful not only in my improved folding crib, but in rocking chairs and present a neat appearance when the crib is folded. The sides of the crib may likewise be solid, or they may, asiin the drawings hereto annexed, be composed of rails 19, connected with the bottom by means of corner-posts 20 and rounds 21. The post 15 is connected with the cross-bar 6 by means of a bolt 22, upon which it may turn as upon a pivot, and thus enabling the bodyof the crib to be swung to a longitudinal position with relation to the base, as will be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The upper edge of one of the rockers has a socket 23, in which is seated a spring-actuated lug 24, which projects slightly above the upper edge of said rocker and serves to engage a recess or depression 25 in the bottom of the crib when the latter is swung to a longitudinal horizontal position, thereby retaining the body of the crib in the desired position.

The rockers 5 5 are provided with hooks 26, adapted to engage studs 27 upon the base, thus enabling the rockers to be locked when it is not desired to use the crib as a cradle.

The action of the spring-hinge 16, by means ofwhich the body of a crib is connected with the swiveled post'15, is to'throw the said body of the crib normally to a vertical or upright position, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that the body of the cradle is to be made of such a width only that it will be adapted to fold between the sides of the base and between the rockers. It isalso evident that the sides of the base are to be connected at their front ends only, the space between their rear ends being occupied by the body of the crib when folded. The sides of the base are also provided on their inner sides with angle-irons or catches 28 to support the end of the crib when the latter is folded.

The operation and ad vantages of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. When the body of the crib is folded, as shown in Fig. 1, the device occupies but little space, and it may be so constructed as to present a handsome and ornamental appearance. When it is desired to use the crib,the body is first drawn down to a horizontal position against the tension of the spring-hinge 16 and then swung pivotally by means of the. post 15 to a longitudinal position with relation to the base,when the recess 25 in the bottom of the crib will engage the spring-actuated lug 24, and the two 3 rockers 5 will prevent the hinge 16 from causing the crib to stand upright. The body of the crib is thus supported upon the rockers and the device may now be used either as a crib or asacradle. The tension of the springs by means of which the rockers are connected with the base may be conveniently regulated by means of the thumb-nuts 14.

The general construction of my improved crib and cradle is simple, convenient, and in- I expensive, and a device constructed in accordance with my invention Will occupy but little room when folded.

I have in the foregoing described what I consider to be the preferred construction of my invention; but I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the details herein set forth, but reserve the right to any modifications to which recourse may be'had without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a base, of a cribframe and a post pivotally supported above the base, and a hinge connecting the same to the bottom of the crib, whereby the latter is capable of a horizontal, pivotal, and vertical swinging movement upon the base, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the base, the rockers mounted thereon, the cross-bar connecting the rockers, the post pivoted upon the cross-bar, and the crib-body hinged to said post, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the base, the rockers mounted thereon, the post pivoted to the rocker-frame, the crib-body hinged tosaid post, and the catches or angle-irons secured upon the inner sides of the side pieces of the base, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the base, the rockerframe mounted thereon and having the pivoted post or upright, and the crib-body connected with said post or upright by means of a spring-hinge, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. RIOKARD.

Witnesses:

OHAs. SHEPARD, FRANK RICKARD. 

